Too bad. I kind-of liked the ol' codger...

Nonetheless, Rule of law etc. Too bad Obama isn't following it too by going after the "Torture Club". At least Spain and Britian are still moral and lawful...

He's gotta go.

Sounds a lot like Blago's defense.
Goodbye, Mr. Murtha.

Hoyer:At Least He's Not Murtha!

There's a bumper sticker for you.

So basically, Murtha is Congress' version of State Senator Clay Davis from "The Wire."

Good to know.

A crook is a crook is a crook. A corrupt politician is a corrupt politician, whether a rethug or a dumbocrap.

Murtha has been identified, for a number of years, as being among the most corrupt politicians in D.C. Among his earmarks have been those consistently benefiting his family members.

My nominee for the 'lifetime achievement award for political corruption' still goes to the Duke. No other politician, that I am aware of, had printed a 'menu' on his Congressional stationery of how much bribe it would cost to receive each level of federal $$$. While not reaching the lifetime achievement award status of Duke Cunningham, Murtha must go.

It sounds a bit like Murtha's saying he engaged in corruption, but only because his district would benefit from his alleged wrongdoing.

The Clay Davis defense, basically.

Seriously, Murtha's never been "eloquent." Until provoked by the frustration of trying to deal with the last administration he's never been a whore for the limelight. And his short run for Majority Leader was seriously out of character with the whole of the rest of his tenure in the House.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I believe he's saying, "I'm doing what I've been elected to do, directing government funds as I can to benefit my district. If, because I've been here forever and carry a lot of weight you wanna call that corruption...".

I live in his district. I've seen his house. I've encountered him in local restaurants and church fish frys from time to time. If he's enriching himself at the taxpayer's expense he's sure hiding it well. But the difference his influence in the Federal government has had on this poor old steel town is unmistakable.

Now it goes without saying if he's broken the law he should pay the piper. No one should be above the law. But as one who's seen what he's done for his district I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The Don Corleone defense. He needs to go right away.

The GOP were gleeful at the prospects of Murtha being made Majority Leader - they were lining up the guns and ammo to blast him when he got chosen. They were as dejected when that didn't happen, as they were when Clinton didn't get the nomination.

Murtha got noticed for his stance against the war and his shots at Cheney. Which given Murtha's military service, carried some weight.

But the dude's part of the old, corrupt Dem system that got ran out in 1994 (only to be replaced by an even more corrupt GOP, but that's for a different thread) and needs to go. As soon as the next election, if possible.

"old corrupt Dem system that got ran out in 1994"

So, tell me, Mark D, how Tom Foley was corrupt? Most lost their positions because they had voted for the Brady Bill.

Murtha is a completely issue.

Sorry, but Murtha helped push jobs into a struggling region that would have gone to an already fat one - take your pick. I don't think he needs to apologize. The steel making region died and nobody gave a shit so yes he represented his district and is helping Johnstown sustain itself. Hopefully more independent businesses will exist because of his effort, but most the country (with the exception of auto towns now) can remotely appreciate how destroyed these communities are.

So, tell me, Mark D, how Tom Foley was corrupt? Most lost their positions because they had voted for the Brady Bill.

Murtha is a completely issue.

Posted by: berttheclock

Can I get that in English, please?

kthxbai

I live in Washington state, though not in Foley's district, and I remember that election.

The biggest factors in his loss was his participation in a lawsuit that successfully overturned a state initiative that imposed term limits for U.S. Representatives and Senator from the state, the call for a constitutional ammendment to implement term limits in the Republican's Contract with America and Goerge Nethercut's promise to serve no more than three terms.

Of course, the Republicans failed miserably in their attempt to pass a term limits measure in Congress and Doc Hastings reneged on his promise.

Another factor was that exit polls showed over half of all voters in that election thought that by defeating the current Speaker of the House, that Doc Hastings would automatically inherit that post.

Mark D - Murtha is a completely different issue - Plus, how was Foley corrupt?

Interesting, about that term limits dustup, across the state line in Idaho, Chenoweth honored her promise to abide by the term limit. She needed the time off to purchase more cans of salmon.